How to Rethink The Way We Perceive Stress

Reading Time: 3 minutes

First published: 2 October 2022 @ 6:00 pm

The effects of stress on our bodies are well known, and include a weakening of the immune system, the sped up aging process, and a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.

But how the feeling is perceived by the mind is often not recognized as a significant factor.

What We Think Stress Is

Stress is a type of energy that can be released or felt. It can be released by situations like having to give a presentation in front of an audience or being unable to sleep at night.

We experience it as an uncomfortable feeling and/or as physical symptoms such as muscle tension, upset stomach, and headaches.

Some chronic stress can even be misdiagnosed as cardiovascular disease.

In this article, we will learn about how our perception of stress differs from what is actually happening in the body.

This information can help us identify the factors in our lives that are causing us to feel stressed.

We will recognize how we experience more negative physical health effects than we otherwise would have.

Photo by Inzmam Khan from Pexels.

What It Actually Is

When people think about stress, they usually focus on what happens in their body.

When you hear someone say “stress” it’s easy to assume that they mean your body releases chemicals that cause a physiological response.

It leads to some sort of physical reaction, such as a headache, upset stomach, or muscle tension.

But this is not entirely true.

Stress is not a substance your body produces, nor does it manifest itself in any way similar to the physical symptoms we associate with it.

The effects of stress on your body are actually quite different from what you might think!

Click on the next page to learn about how we produce stress!